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Tag: california

My Favorite Santa Barbara Hotel (by far)

My Favorite Santa Barbara Hotel (by far)

My favorite Santa Barbara hotel? That’s easy. Belmond El Encanto won my heart with gracious suites in historic cottages, beautiful gardens, and a panoramic ocean view. Spread over seven acres, the hotel feels more residential than commercial. This isn’t surprising, since the bungalows here started out as lodging for students and faculty when a state […]

September 14, 2016 | Updated: September 14, 2016 | By Elizabeth | 1 Reply More
Shell Beach – Best Central CA Vacation Spot

Shell Beach – Best Central CA Vacation Spot

Shell Beach: What makes this area the perfect spot for a summer vacation? Great weather and a relatively laid-back atmosphere. Further north, coastal fog can be a problem, and in some areas to the south, beach resorts are packed in cheek-to-jowl. But Shell Beach, which is the upmarket resort area of Pismo Beach, feels quiet […]

July 30, 2016 | Updated: August 1, 2016 | By Elizabeth | Reply More
Restaurants in La Jolla Shores – Part 2

Restaurants in La Jolla Shores – Part 2

Restaurants in La Jolla Shores are my favorites, and this isn’t just because they are close to our house. What I really enjoy is the sense of community that I feel when I’m there. As I think you know, La Jolla is San Diego’s favorite beach area, and there are plenty of places to eat […]

June 15, 2016 | Updated: June 15, 2016 | By Elizabeth | 1 Reply More
Catalina Island – An Insider’s Guide

Catalina Island – An Insider’s Guide

Catalina Island – the place that’s “26 miles across the sea,” has a reputation as being touristy, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There’s also an authentic side to Catalina. On my last visit, I found a charming inn, a great place to eat, and a spa that truly reflects the island’s heritage – all […]

May 4, 2016 | Updated: July 28, 2016 | By Elizabeth | 5 Replies More
Best La Jolla Shores Hotels, San  Diego

Best La Jolla Shores Hotels, San Diego

La Jolla Shores Beach is a long stretch of sand about a mile from La Jolla’s popular shopping and dining areas in the “village.” The Shores is where San Diego locals and visitors head for walking, kayaking, surfing, sunning, SCUBA diving, and playing in the waves. In short, La Jolla Shores is pretty much paradise. […]

March 16, 2016 | Updated: March 18, 2016 | By Elizabeth | 1 Reply More
El Camino Real, Maggie’s 800-Mile Mission Walk

El Camino Real, Maggie’s 800-Mile Mission Walk

El Camino Real, the Royal Road, is a route that links California’s 21 iconic missions and provides an authentic view of the state’s colonial history. I’ve visited many of these landmarks and enjoyed the serenity they offer – and that was enough for me. In contrast, my friend and fellow travel journalist Maggie Espinosa felt compelled […]

November 17, 2015 | Updated: November 18, 2015 | By Elizabeth | 2 Replies More
Best Hotel Suites Near La Jolla Cove, San Diego

Best Hotel Suites Near La Jolla Cove, San Diego

La Jolla Cove is easily the most recognized spot in my hometown – and for good reason. The lovely little beach is a mere dollop compared to the long stretches of sand in the rest of San Diego. And – because it’s sheltered by low sandstone cliffs – La Jolla Cove feels cozy. Snorkelers and […]

October 8, 2015 | Updated: October 9, 2015 | By Elizabeth | Reply More
Monterey, CA – Wildlife, Great Food & More

Monterey, CA – Wildlife, Great Food & More

Monterey is a mixed bag. At first glance, it’s not very exciting. The commercial district is chockablock with the predictable chain stores, and nearby lodging and dining options are also ho-hum. So why am I writing about this Central California city? Because the flip side is that Monterey is home to some of the best food, most authentic wildlife […]

September 29, 2015 | Updated: September 30, 2015 | By Elizabeth | 1 Reply More
California Road Trips With Kids – LA to San Fran

California Road Trips With Kids – LA to San Fran

California road trips are the best – especially ones along our long, beautiful coast. I’ve lived here most of my life, and I’m still amazed at the sights I see when I travel along Highway 101 and Highway 1. Because I love coastal California road trips, I was alarmed when I heard a mother of […]

September 3, 2015 | Updated: March 13, 2016 | By Elizabeth | 2 Replies More
Carmel Valley – Where to Stay and Play

Carmel Valley – Where to Stay and Play

Carmel Valley is a popular destination for luxury loving Californians. Resorts, lodges, and restaurants in this area two hours from San Francisco offer the food, wine, and activities that Golden State residents love. Want to connect with the local culture? You couldn’t make a better choice than to spend some time at Carmel Valley Ranch. When I […]

July 13, 2015 | Updated: July 21, 2015 | By Elizabeth | 1 Reply More
Best La Jolla Beach Boutique Hotel

Best La Jolla Beach Boutique Hotel

La Jolla beach hotels tend to be busy places, but one boutique property offers a sweet retreat with an ocean view. Scripps Inn faces the Pacific a few blocks south of La Jolla Cove – just far enough from the Children’s Pool seal colony to avoid the masses of visitors that the marine cuties attract. I’ve lived […]

June 18, 2015 | Updated: June 19, 2015 | By Elizabeth | Reply More
Best Time to Visit La Jolla, California

Best Time to Visit La Jolla, California

The best time to visit La Jolla – my hometown – will depend on what you want to do when you get here. For classic car enthusiasts, that means early April, when the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance takes place. In fact, the 2016 La Jolla Concours will take place Sunday, April 10. Now in its 12th […]

April 8, 2015 | Updated: September 7, 2015 | By Elizabeth | Reply More
Larry’s Meaning of Life Travel Experience

Larry’s Meaning of Life Travel Experience

My friend Larry Kessler contributed this guest post. The meaning of  life. No small task. Thank God for Google ’cause we’re running out of real estate to house the volumes of texts that cover this subject. But hey, since I just had a life changing, meaning of life travel experience, I’d like to offer my […]

December 13, 2014 | Updated: January 22, 2015 | By Elizabeth | Reply More
Local Photographer’s Santa Barbara Food Tour

Local Photographer’s Santa Barbara Food Tour

This Santa Barbara food tour trip report is brought to you by Jessica Roy who – as you’ll read below – had a great time sampling local culinary specialties as a guest of Eat This, Shoot That! Her guide and ETST owner Tara Jones is an expert foodie and a crash hot photographer. Tara attended Brooks Institute of Photography in […]

October 22, 2014 | Updated: October 31, 2014 | By Elizabeth | Reply More
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